Mending press



June 1, 1965 c. K. BROWN 3,186,334

MENDING PRESS Filed May 14, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 CLHRENCE K B2ow- IN VEN TOR.

ATTolZN EY June 1, 1965 c. K. BROWN MENDING PRESS Filed May 14, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. BY

ATTORH EV June 1,1965 I KBROWN 3,186,334

MENDING PRESS Filed May 14, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 CL DEENCE 1(- B20 w/v INVEN TOR.

ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,12%,334' MENDING PRESS;

Clarence K. Brown, Long Beach, Calif., assignor to Edwin J. Burns, Inglewood, Los Angeles floun'ty, Calif. Filed May 14, 1963, Ser. No. 280,246 7 Claims. (Cl. 109-51) This invention relates to mending presses and more particularly to coin operated presses for mending garments and the like at self-service facilities.

There is a growing tendency for people to use self service facilities, ranging from customer auto repair garages to self-service shoe shine parlors. There are many reasons why such facilities are popular. The service is performed at the customers convenience and according to his own individual standards. At the same time he is receiving the personal satisfaction associated with performing the services himself, and at what is usually a substantial saving in time and money.

One self-service facility where substantial savings can be achieved is a clothing maintenance establishment, where coin operated machines launder and dry clean garments speedily, effectively and with a minimum of effort on the part of the business proprietor and the customer. Most such establishments, however, have not been equipped for self-service garment repair.

The mending press comprising the present invention is of the coin operated, self-service type and is intended primarily for use in laundromats and dry cleaning establishments to permit the customer to mend a tear or rip in a garment quickly and easily. To satisfy the customer such a mending press must be simple and convenient to operate. In order to satisfy the needs of the owner of the establishment, it must be safe, dependable, compact, sturdy and attractive in appearance. It must also be economical in operation and inexpensive both in initial cost and in maintenance expense. The manufacturer of such a press wantsit to be durable in construction, yet have parts that are simple to make and easy to assemble. The mending press comprising the present invention fulfills these and other objectives.

In accordance with the present invention a patch of material treated with a vinyl adhesive is placed over the tear or hole on one side of a garment or article to be mended and bonded in place through the application of heat and pressure. Articles of leather, rubber, canvas, cloth of various kinds, including those containing synthetics such as nylon, Orlon, rayon or Dacron, and many other materials may be bonded in this manner.

The necessary heat and pressure are applied by means of a novel press utilizing a new and improved heating platen, which is locked in position over the patch during a predetermined time cycle. When the bonding operation has been completed, the press automatically unlocks, and withdraws the heating platen from the patched garment or article. The patching material cools very quickly and the garment or article may be removed from the press and used immediately.

One new and distinctive feature of the mending press is the novel electrical circuit for energizing the heating platen, indicating its readiness for use, and disengaging the locking mechanism when the bonding operation is completed.

Another feature is the novel mechanicallinkage for locking the press platen in position and releasing it when the bonding operation is completed. Still other features are the provision of means for uniform heat distribution over the bonding area during the bonding operation and Patented .lune I, 1%65 ice safety means for shielding the hot press platen from accidental contact with the operator while the platen is being brought into operating temperature, between pressing cycles, and when the final cycle is completed and the platen is cooling.

This invention will be better understood from the detailed description which follows, when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the mending press;

FIGURE 2 is a schematic view used to explain the electrical operation of the press;

FIGURE 3 is an elevational view of the press in open position with parts broken away to better illustrate its operation;

FIGURE 4 is an elevational view of the press in closed position, with parts broken away to better illustrate the relationship of parts;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary perspective View showing the handle actuated platen movement;

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view taken along the line 6-6 in FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 7 is an elevational sectional view of the platen and clamp bar assembly; and

FIGURE 8 is a plan view taken along the line 8-8 of FIGURE 7.

Referring noW to FIGURE 1 there is shown a perspective View of mending press 10. This press includes base portions 12, a mechanism cover 14, handle 16 and a platen hood assembly 18. An automatic coin meter 29 is mounted conveniently in the end of base portion 12. A neoprene rubber base pad 24 is positioned on base portion 12. Base portion 12 and mechanism cover 14 contain the electrical circuits and apparatus for operating the platen hood assembly 18. Handle 16 protrudes from the mecha nism cover 14 and is used to actuate the hood assembly 18. Heat vent holes 26 and filament lamp 28 are shown in the end of the assembly. Within the assembly, and adapted to engage base pad 24 when handle 16 is pulled forward, is a heater platen.

In operation, the torn area of the article to be mended is placed on the base pad 24. A mender, or vinyl adhesive patch, is placed over the tear. Assuming a coin has been inserted to activate the coin meter 20, and close the circuit to the platen heater (not shown), handle 16 is pulled forward and down. This presses the platen against the mender, locking it in position. At the end of the time required to bond the patch to the article, the platen is released. After a few seconds to permit the adhesive to set, the article is removed and is ready for use.

The electric circuit is shown in FIGURE 2. Here coinoperated time switch 30 connects parallel circuit paths 32, 34 to an electrical energy source through plug 36. One path 32 includes limit switch 38 and heater element 459 of thermal delay tube 42 connected in parallel with bimetal contacts 44 and solenoid 46. The other path 34- includes thermoswitch 48 and platen heater 50 in parallel with bimetal contacts 52 and filament lamp 28. Energy light 56 and resistor 58 are connected between the hot side of the coin operated switch 39 and return lead 60.

. In operation, plug 36 is plugged into a convenient wall outlet (not shown). Energy light 56 lights up, signifying safety fuse 62 is still good and that the machine is operable. When a coin is inserted in coin meter 20 (shown in FIGURE 1) time switch 30 closes for a predetermined time. This energizes circuit path 34, heating platen heater 50. Therm-oswitch 48, .set at the bonding temperature of the mending material (380 F. is suit-able for one type), opens when the heater gets too hot and closes as the heater cools off. Bimetal contacts 52 close when heater is hot, causing filament lamp 28 to go on. This signals the operator that the mending press is ready for the mending operation and to pull handle 16 (in FIGURE 1) forward and downward, applying the platen heater 50 to the mending material. This action closes limit switch 38 in circuit path 32, causing heater 40 in thermo-delay tube 42 to heat. Heater 40 causes bimetal cont-acts 44 to close, energizing solenoid 16 after the heater has been applied to the bonding material sufficiently long to bond the material. In one application a temperature of 380 F. for seconds is adequate. At the end of the bonding time, solenoid 16 operates to raise the heater 50, in a manner to .be described, and to open limit switch 38, restoring bimetal contacts 44 to open position and resetting the solenoid. This operation may be repeated several times until the coin operated time switch 30 opens to await the insertion of the next coin.

FIGURE 3 shows the relationship of some of the structural parts. Press pad 24 of neoprene rubber is held by a pan 64 on top of base portion 12. Coin meter 20 is positioned at the front end. Coin box 66 is positioned under the meter to receive the expended coins. Lock 68 affords access to the coin box.

Within mechanism cover 14 a link assembly 70 interconnects handle 16 and the clamp bar assembly 72 within platen hood assembly 18. Link assembly 70 consists of two bars 74 with lugs 76, 7S spaced there-between. Lug 76 is somewhat longer to provide for a greater swinging action of bars 74 as handle 16 nears its forward position as shown in FIGURE 4. Handle 16 is pivotally attached at pivot 84 to rotate shaft assembly 82 having offset bars 84 pivotally connected thereto. Lug 76 is pivotally connected to extension 86 of clamp bar assembly 72 which extends beyond pivot 88.

As shown in moving handle 16 from its position in FIGURE 3 to that in FIGURE 4 to position platen heater 50 over base pad 24, pivot point 90 between lu-g 78 and off-set bar 84 pivots over a larger arc than pivot 92 between lug 76 and extension 86. This provides the lower end of link assembly bar 74 with a positive engagement with limit switch 38 and in abutment with solenoid 46. It should be noted that when pivot 90 is directly over pivot 80, the clamp bar assembly 72 is locked in the down position.

When solenoid 46 is energized it moves the lower end of bar 74 forward. With bar assembly 72 in horizontal position, pivot 92 becomes the fulcrum and pivot 90 swings to the right from its dead center locking position upon energization of solenoid 46. Manual operation of handle 16 upwardly and rearwardly will lift the platen hood assembly 18 from its position for bonding. After a short cooling period the mended article is removed from the base pad 24 and is ready for use.

It should be noted in FIGURES 3 and 4 that platen heater 50 in .the raised position in FIGURE 3 rises above the hood assembly lower edge 94, whereas in FIGURE 4 the heater 50 lowers to lie substantially in the same plane as lower edge 94-. While this safety feature of recessing the platen heater 50 after use, to avoid accidental burning, may be accomplished in other ways, one exemplary embodiment for performing this function is stop member 96 attached to clamp bar assembly 72. In the raised position in FIGURE 3 stop member 96 supports hood assembly 18 where-as in the closed position in FIGURE 4 the clamp bar assembly 72 drops to horizontal position and hood assembly 18 rests on base pad 24.

Another feature of the mending press resides in the use of a Teflon or glass cloth shield 98 over the lower edge of the hood assembly 18. This shield conducts heat efiiciently and uniformly from platen heater 50 to the mendingpatch on base pad 24 during the bonding operation, and rapidly dissipates heat in the raised position of the assembly 18 when the platen heater 50 has 4 been moved out of contact with the shield. This shield also prevents accidental contact with heater 50 while it is in the raised position, heated and ready for another bonding operation within the coin operated time cycle.

The manner in which the hand-1e 16 locks the platen heater 5th in bonding position may be more clearly understood when reference is made to FIGURE 5. Here handle 16 is secured to handle shaft 106 which is pivotally mounted at pivot between the spaced upright walls of mechanism cover 14. Shaft assembly 82 is rotatably mounted on handle shaft 100. This assembly consists of shaft 102 having tube 104 afiixed thereover, such as by pin 106. A pair of spaced offset bars 84 are Welded to tube 104. Pivotally mounted to bars 84 at pivot is lug '78 of link assembly 70. Link assembly 70, as earlier described, consists of spaced bars 74 having lugs 78 and 76 positioned therebetween. Clamp bar assembly 72, consisting of spaced bars 106' on shaft 108 pivotally mounted at pivot 88 on mechanism cover 14, has an extension 86 beyond pivot 88. Here the assembly is pivotally fastened to lug 76 at pivot 92.

When handle 16 is pushed downward, lugs 84 rotate counterclockwise to vertical position where pivot 90 is vertically aligned dead center over handle pivot 80. Pivot 92 follows upwardly, although with less rotational arc, lowering clamp bar assembly 72 to horizontal position. To release, the lower ends of bars 74 are urged clockwise about pivot 92 by the solenoid 46 (not shown in FIG- URE 5), moving pivot 90 clockwise from its dead center position. As lug 84 rotates, bar-s 74 move downward, moving pivot 92 below pivot 88. This causes platen heater 50 to start to rise from contact with the material to be mended. Spring 110, interconnecting handle 16 and mechanism cover 14 causes pivots 90 and 92 to complete their clockwise movement.

At this point it should be noted that shaft 102 has a slot of approximately 90 therein. This slot is shown in the sectional view in FIGURE 6. Pin 1112 in handle shaft rides in this slot to permit relative motion between handle 16 and shaft assembly 82. This slot permits substantial return of the handle 16 to its original position, even while the platen heater 50 is down in its bonding position.

A vertical sectional View of the platen is shown in FIGURE 7, and a plan view along line 88 is shown in FIGURE 8. A round head bolt 114 with compression spring 116 thereover is positioned through an aperture in upper plate 118. This bolt is retained between bars 106 of clamp bar assembly 72 by means of washers 120 and nut 122. Lower plate 124 has a centrally positioned recess to receive the head of bolt 114. Compression spring 116 against the head and against the upper plate keeps the bolt seated. Spacers 126 hold the plates together. Spacers 128 and heat shield 130 separate lower plate from platen ring heater 5t). Platen 132 contacts platen ring heater 50 and transfers heat to the bondable material. A housing 134 for thermoswitch 43 is positioned at one end of the assembly to enable the switch to sense the platen heat and maintain heat control.

Having thus described one embodiment it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto, and that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the accompanyingclaims without departing from the spirit of the invention. a

What is claimed is:

1. An electrically actuated mending press, said press having a circuit comprising: 7

(a) Means for connecting said circuit to a source of electrical power; e

(b) A first electrical path having a platen heater therein;

(c) A thermoswitch positioned in close proximity to said heater, said thermoswitch being operable to disconnect said heater when said heater rises above a predetermined bonding temperature;

(d) A filament lamp; 7

arsassa (e) Means connecting said filament lamp in said path when said heater is at a predetermined temperature thereby lighting said lamp to indicate the heated conditioii of said heater;

(f) A second electrical path having a limit switch therein;

(g) Manually operated self-locking handle means for moving said platen heater to a bonding position and to close said limit switch;

(h) A solenoid acting against said handle means to open said limit switch and move said heater from said bonding position; and

(i) Thermal delay means for connecting said solenoid in said second path a predetermined time after said limit switch has been closed.

2. An electrically actuated mending press, said press having a circuit comprising:

(a) Means for connecting said circuit to a source of electrical power;

(b) A first electrical path having a platen heater therein;

(c) A filament lamp;

(d) Means connecting said filament lamp in said path when said heater is at a predetermined temperature thereby lighting said lamp to indicate the heated condition of said heater;

(e) A second electrical path having a limit switch therein;

(f) Manually operated self-locking handle means for moving said platen heater to a bonding position and to close said limit switch;

(g) A solenoid acting against said handle means to open said limit switch and move said heater from said bonding position; and

(h) Thermal delay means for connecting said solenoid in said second path a predetermined time after said limit switch has been closed.

3. An electrically actuated mending press, said press having a circuit comprising:

(a) Means for connecting said circuit to a source of electrical power;

(b) A first electrical path having a platen heater therein;

(c) A thermoswitch positioned in close proximity to said heater, said thermoswitch being operable to disconnect said heater when said heater rises above a predetermined bonding temperature;

(d) A second electrical path having a limit switch therein;

(e) Manually operated self-locking handle means for moving said platen heater to a bonding position and to close said limit switch;

(f) A solenoid acting against said handle means to open said limit switch and move said heater from said bonding position; and

(g) Therm-a1 delay means for connecting said solenoid in said second path a predetermined time after said limit switch has been closed.

4. A mending press comprising:

(a) A base portion;

(b) A handle pivotally mounted thereon;

(c) A platen;

(d) A platen clamp bar assembly having said platen connected thereto and pivotally mounted on said base portion;

(e) A link assembly interconnecting said handle and said clamp bar assembly;

(f) An electrical circuit having a limit switch therein;

(g) Said link assembly, upon actuation of said handle, being operable to close said limit switch and move said platen into bonding position with said base portion and being self-locking when said platen is in said bonding position; and

(h) Means actionable after closure of said limit switch, including a solenoid energized in timed relation to iii the closing of said limit switch, acting against said link assembly to move said platen out of said bonding position and to open said limit switch.

5. A mending press comprising:

(a) A base portion;

(b) A shaft assembly pivotally connected thereto;

(c) A handle for actuating said shaft assembly;

(d) A platen;

(e) A platen clamp bar assembly having. said platen connected thereto and pivotally mounted on said base portion;

(f) A link assembly interconnecting said clamp bar assembly and said shaft assembly;

(g) An electrical circuit having a limit switch therein;

(h) Said link assembly, upon actuation of said handle, being operable to close said limit switch and move said platen into bonding position with said base portion and being self-locking when said platen is in said bonding position; and,

(i) Means actionable after closure of said limit switch, including a solenoid energized in timed relation to the closing of said limit switch, acting against said link assembly to move said platen out of said bonding position and to open said limit switch.

6. A mending press comprising:

(a) A base portion;

(b) A shaft assembly pivotally connected thereto;

(c) A handle for actuating said shaft assembly;

(d) A platen;

(e) A platen clamp bar assembly having said platen connected thereto and pivotally mounted on said base portion;

(f) A link assembly comprising a plurality of linking elements interconnecting said clamp bar assembly and said shaft assembly;

(g) An electrical circuit having a limit switch therein;

(h) Said link assembly, upon actuation of said handle, being operable to close said limit switch and move said platen into bonding position with said base portion and being self-locking when said platen is in said bonding position;

(i) A solenoid;

(j) Said circuit having delay means for energizing said.

solenoid after closure of said limit switch; and

(k) Said solenoid acting directly against at least one element of said link assembly to open said limit switch and move said platen out of said bonding position.

7. In an electrically actuated mending press comprising a base, a platen having a heating element therein, a first electrical circuit containing said heating element and connected to a source of electrical power, and a second electrical circuit containing a limit switch, thermal time delay means activated by said limit switch, and a solenoid activated by said thermal time delay means and connected to a source of electrical power, means for supporting said platen and moving it into a bonding position at the commencement of a bonding cycle and moving it out of said bonding position at the completion of said cycle comprising:

(a) A first pivot means on said base;

(b) An elongated support arm having means at one of its ends for pivotally supporting said platen and being adapted to rotate about said first pivot means at a point spaced from its opposite free end;

(0) A shaft rotatably supported by said base in a fixed position over said opposite end of said support arm;

(d) An offset bar pivotally connected at one of its ends to said shaft and having its opposite end free to rotate about said shaft;

(c) A manually operable handle pivotally attached to said shaft; and

(f) A link assembly comprising a bar having a first end and a second end and having a first lug rigidly 3,186,334 7 8 connected to it at its first end and a' second lug, some- References Cited by the Examiner What longer than said first lug, rigidly connected to UNITED STATES PATENTS it at a point intermediate said first and second ends,

said first lug being pivotally connected to the free 2,571,103 10/51 h 156" 533 X end of said offset bar and said second lug being pivot- 2,638,964 5/53 Andma 10093 ally connected to the free end of said support arm; 3,047,051 7/62 Matveefi 10O'93 said bar being so disposed with regard to said FOREIGN PATENTS limit switch and solenoid that when said handle is manually rotated to move the platen into the 8:323:

bonding position its second end closes the limit 10 switch and abuts against the solenoid. WALTER A. SCHEEL, Primary Examiner. 

1. AN ELECTRICALLY ACTUATED MENDING PRESS, SAID PRESS HAVING A CIRCUIT COMPRISING: (A) MEANS FOR CONNECTING SAID CIRCUIT TO A SOURCE OF ELECTRICAL POWER; (B) A FIRST ELECTRICAL PATH HAVING A PLATEN HEATER THEREIN; (C) A THERMOSWITCH POSITIONED IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO SAID HEATER, SAID THERMOSWITCH BEING OPERABLY TO DISCONNECT SAID HEATER WHEN SAID HEATER RAISES ABOVE A PREDETERMINED BONDING TEMPERATURE; (D) A FILAMENT LAMP; (E) MEANS CONNECTING SAID FILAMENT LAMP IN SAID PATH WHEN SAID HEATER IS AT A PREDETERMINED TEMPERATURE THEREBY LIGHTING SAID LAMP TO INDICATE THE HEATED CONDITION OF SAID HEATER; (F) A SECOND ELECTRICAL PATH HAVING A LIMIT SWITCH THEREIN; (G) MANUALLY OPERATED SELF-LOCKING HANDLE MEANS FOR MOVING SAID PLATEN HEATER TO A BOUNDING POSITION TO CLOSE SAID LIMIT SWITCH; (H) A SOLENOID ACTING AGAINST SAID HANDLE MEANS TO OPEN SAID LIMIT SWITCH AND MOVE SAID HEATER FROM SAID BONDING POSITION; AND (J) THERMAL DELAY MEANS FOR CONNECTING SAID SOLENOID IN SAID SECOND PATH A PREDETERMINED TIME AFTER SAID LIMIT SWITCH HAS BEEN CLOSED. 